Tag Archives: fiction

Jacob tied the ends of the bedsheets together into a makeshift rucksack for carrying whatever supplies he might be able to scrounge, and he yawned, rubbing tired eyes. Molly’s words had haunted him throughout the night. I wish you could hold me now and tell me everything is going to be okay. He gathered the folded rucksack and looked through the windows. The streets were doused in morning light, hopeful perhaps, were it not for the flesh-eaters that still crowded the reddened concrete. Everything wasn’t going to be okay.

He paced back and forth, repeatedly emptying and reloading the bullet cartridge from his gun’s stock and checking his pocket for the room keycard, all to delay his departure. The risks were too grave. How would he succeed where so many had failed? Breathing hard, Jacob eyed the kitchen sink and reminded himself that death was a guarantee if he stayed. Only if he left was there a chance of survival, however small. He whispered a prayer to a God he didn’t believe in. Fuck the truth. He needed allies more than ever, and maybe somewhere, somehow, someone was listening. Continue reading →

Jacob paced back and forth, raking nervous fingers through his hair. He had just dialed 911 from the landline, but all he got was static. He tried other numbers – the police department, the fire department, the operator, a pizza place – and still, nothing. Not a single outbound call was going through.

He found himself stealing frequent glances at the elevator. The flesh-eater from the lobby would wake up soon, and he’d need to be ready if she found him again. It was certainly plausible, given that her staff keycard granted her access to his floor. Jacob cracked his knuckles with fresh conviction and pushed the sofa against the elevator doors to set up a blockade. His defense would have to hold until the authorities arrived. He collected chairs from each room, stacked them against one other atop the sofa, and taking another, brought it to the stairwell door and jammed it under the handle. Satisfied with his improvisation, he made his way to the bathroom.

Jacob picked his gun off the floor and wiped it dry. The weight of the weapon always surprised him, made him feel powerful, deliberate, somehow more in control, and moving back to the main room, he propped the gun at shoulder level and took practice aim between the two blockaded entrances. He thought back to the nightmarish descent, the growls and whispers and snarls, and hoped that his mind had simply contrived a lie to distract him from his depression. Still, it had all seemed so real. After some time, he lowered the gun and began to search for his cell phone, looking under pillows and cabinets and in drawers, but to no avail, having hidden it in some forgettable nook when he first arrived. Better hidden so that he wouldn’t give in to weakness and call Molly, he remembered. He managed a laugh. It was just as she had predicted: in the end, his pride would prove his downfall. Continue reading →

Writing a zombie apocalypse novel to see where it takes me. Having a lot of fun with it so far. Sharing it for any curious readers out there.

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Jacob slumped back in the Italian-marbled bathtub of his hotel suite and wept. Seven days of self-imposed isolation. Seven days with shades drawn, soundproofed windows, and with the floor all to himself. Seven days since he left Molly to clear her stuff out of the apartment. He picked up his gun and tracked the silver glean along its barrel. Everything had gone to shit – the divorce had been finalized, he was still working the same banking career that he swore he would quit ten years ago – everything, but it was time to take control. He cocked the gun, pressed the end of the barrel flat against his skull and shut his eyes, ready to pull the trigger.

Instead, he laughed.

He imagined Molly meeting up with some tall, handsome divorcee, one willing and able to have her biological children. She would smile, he would smile, and she would talk about how terrible her ex-husband had been, he would pretend to care, and they would marry as soon as was socially acceptable. Then she would finally get what she wanted. Nine months later she’d be popping out a little screaming bastard for the whole world to cherish. Continue reading →